Dianthus plant named ‘Wesnavi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘Wesnavi’, characterized by its large white-colored flowers with red-colored picotee petal margins and random spots and streaks; good postproduction longevity with flowers maintaining good substance and color for about two days as a cut flower; and resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum .

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Wesnavi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of potted Dianthus plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesnavi’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Dianthus cultivars having strong stems, larger flowers and attractive flower coloration.

The new Dianthus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number WS 99-1077, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number WS 98-843, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dianthus was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands in July, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dianthus by cuttings propagated in a controlled environment in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, since August, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Dianthus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Wesnavi has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesnavi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesnavi’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large white-colored flowers with red-colored picotee petal         margins and random spots and streaks.     -   2. Good postproduction longevity with flowers maintaining good         substance and color for about two days as a cut flower.     -   3. Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Dianthus have longer and stronger flowering stems and differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have dark red-colored flowers. Compared to plants of the male present selection, plants of the new Dianthus have stronger flowering stems and differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Dianthus can be compared to plants of the cultivar Lando, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dianthus and the cultivar Lando differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianthus had longer, thicker and stronger         flowering stems than plants of the cultivar Lando.     -   2. Plants of the new Dianthus had longer internodes than plants         of the cultivar Lando.     -   3. Plants of the new Dianthus had longer leaves than plants of         the cultivar Lando.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Dianthus were white with         red-colored picotee petal margins and random spots and streaks         whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Lando were white with         dark pink-colored picotee petal margins and random spots and         streaks.     -   5. Plants of the new Dianthus were more resistant to Fusarium         oxysporum than plants of the cultivar Lando.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dianthus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dianthus.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Wesnavi’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Wesnavi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 's -Granvenzande, The Netherlands during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time about four weeks after planting. The photographs and the description were taken about eight months after planting.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus cultivar Wesnavi. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus             caryophyllus identified as code number WS 99-1077, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus             caryophyllus identified as code number WS 98-843, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 25 days at 22°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; white to cream-colored.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Flowering stem description.—Quantity: After pinching, about             nine flowering stems develop per plant. Length: About 80 cm             to 90 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode: About 11 cm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Very strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; waxy. Color: Close to 147A, overlain with waxy             bloom, close to 188A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; sessile. Aspect:             Concave; upright to perpendicular to eventually reflexing.             Length: About 15.5 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Sharply acute to acuminate. Base: Clasping. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Tough, leathery;             waxy. Venation: Parallel. Color: Developing foliage, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 147A, overlain with waxy bloom,             close to 188A. Fully developed foliage, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 147A, overlain with waxy bloom, close to             188A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large single hemispherical flowers; typically             grown as a disbud or standard-type with one flower per stem.         -   Flowering response.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions;             plants flower about 20 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity with             flowers maintaining good substance and color for about two             weeks as a cut flower. Flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; spicy, clove-like.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3             mm to 5 mm. Shape: Oblong. Color: 144A and 173C.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Depth (height):             About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About 60, imbricate.             Length: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.             Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Roughly rounded; finely             serrated giving a fringed appearance; undulate. Lateral             margins: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 155C; towards the margin and random             spots and streaks, close to 45D; towards the base, overlain             with N144D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 155C; towards the margin and random spots and             streaks, close to 45D; towards the base, overlain with             N144D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: About six, fused. Length: About 3 cm.             Width: About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Calyx length: About 3 cm.             Calyx diameter: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Roughly linear. Apex:             Apiculate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Tough,             leathery; smooth; waxy, longitudinally ridged. Color, upper             surface: 192C to 192D. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: About ten stamens, mostly             transformed into petaloids without developed anthers.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: About four. Pistil length: About             2.5 cm to 3 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close             to 155A. Stigma shape: Linear. Ovary color: Base, close to             155A; mid-section, close to 144B; apex, close to 162A to             162B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Dianthus have been     observed to be resistant to Fusarium oxysporum. Plants of the new     Dianthus have not been observed to be resistant to other pathogens     and pests common to Dianthus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dianthus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from 0° C. to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘Wesnavi’, as illustrated and described. 